John Edwards may have had a big influence on his home state’s voting on Tuesday if he’d endorsed a Democratic candidate before the primary, but the former North Carolina senator hasn’t made public his support for either one. Of course, Barack Obama already beat Hillary Clinton by more than ten points in the state without Edwards’s help, but Clinton could have used the boost from the former presidential candidate.

So why hasn’t Edwards spoken out? Some say he may be positioning himself for the vice president slot of the Democratic ticket, a role he filled in 2004 as sidekick to presidential hopeful John Kerry (although he has denied this). Or perhaps he and wife Elizabeth just don’t agree on who would be best for the job.

People magazine sat down with John and Elizabeth Edwards in their first joint interview since John bowed out of the presidential race in January and learned what they think are the pros and cons of each candidate.

He said…

Clinton pro: “I like something different about Hillary. I think her tenacity shows a real strength that’s inside her.”
Clinton con: “Um, still a lot of the old politics.”

Obama pro: “One is, I think he really does want to bring about serious change and a different way of doing things. And secondly, I think it’s a great symbolic thing to have an African-American who could be president.”
Obama con: “Sometimes I want to see more substance under the rhetoric.”

She said…

Clinton pro: “I like Hillary’s health care plan.”
Clinton con: “The lobbyist money.”

Obama pro: “The fact that he has motivated so many young people to be involved, I think is fantastic.”
Obama con: “I don’t like his health care plan or his advertising on health care, which I think is misleading.”

People also reported Elizabeth’s telling response to John saying that it is a “great symbolic thing to have an African-American who could be president”:

At that, Mrs. Edwards rolled her eyes and, gripping the arms of her kitchen chair with some exaggeration, seemed about to lunge from her seat. “What about the great symbolic thing about a woman …”

“It’s important. It’s important,” her husband said. “I know it.”

Sounds to me like Elizabeth, who has incurable cancer, is really gunning for Clinton with her overwhelming support of her healthcare plan - something that is understandably important to her. It also sounds like John is behind Obama - he had more specific positive things to say about him than he did of Clinton, only citing her “tenacity.”

Perhaps John Edwards will announce an endorsement soon, since it seems like the race between Obama and Clinton will be over shortly. Or he’ll play it extra safe and not announce until there is a certain nominee - the last thing he wants to do is pick a loser, especially if he’s angling to be VP once again.